"Changming, won't you invite this old man in for a seat?" Feng Dahai said with a smile.
"Village Chief, please come inside." I stepped aside and followed behind Feng Dahai, looking puzzled.
If I remember correctly, Feng Dahai hasn't stepped into my yard since my grandfather's funeral. It's almost dark now, why is he suddenly visiting?
"Changming, where is your fifth grandfather?" Feng Dahai raised his pipe, took a few puffs, and then asked.
"Fifth Grandfather should be in the kitchen, Village Chief. Are you here to see Fifth Grandfather?" I pointed in the direction of the kitchen and said.
“No, I came here specifically to find you.” Feng Dahai stopped, turned around and looked at me, and asked, “Changming, you haven’t had dinner yet, have you?”
"I haven't eaten. I wonder what the village chief wants to see me about?" I shook my head and then asked the question I most wanted to ask.
"Hehe, no rush. I haven't eaten either. Let's go see what good dishes that old guy has cooked. As for what I wanted to talk to you about, we can talk about it after we've eaten and drunk our fill." Feng Dahai chuckled and patted my shoulder as he walked toward the kitchen.
"Okay." I nodded and followed the village chief toward the kitchen.
As soon as Feng Dahai entered the kitchen, his fifth grandfather saw him and hurriedly picked up the two bottles of wine from under the table and put them in the cupboard.
"Fifth Brother, you're really stingy. You've been in our Dafeng Village for over ten years, and you've drunk countless bottles of my liquor. I've never had a drink with you. We finally met tonight, and you're acting like a mother hen protecting her chicks?" Feng Dahai said irritably, taking a puff of his cigarette.
I felt quite awkward standing there. Apart from me, I guess very few outsiders get to drink my fifth grandfather's wine.
"Giving it to you would be a waste," Fifth Grandfather said indifferently, glancing at Feng Dahai.
“You…” Feng Dahai angrily knocked the tobacco residue off his pipe, his beard bristling and eyes wide with fury.
"Um... Village Chief, please sit down and eat first." I quickly pulled out a chair for Feng Dahai to sit down.
How to describe the relationship between Fifth Grandfather and the Village Chief?
The village chief liked to eat pig intestines, especially the kind that smelled a bit like feces in the afternoon. He would always ask Fifth Grandfather to save some for him, but Fifth Grandfather had a condition: he could save some for him, but he had to exchange it for the village chief's wine.
Later, the two became acquainted. Knowing that the village chief had a lot of wine, Fifth Grandfather would bring some pig intestines to the village chief's house after selling pork. Over time, Fifth Grandfather drank all the wine in the village chief's house.
If the village chief, who doesn't have any alcohol, wants to eat pig intestines, he has no choice but to have someone go to town to buy them for him.
Feng Dahai sat down in the chair, put down his pipe, glanced at his fifth grandfather, and said slowly, "Fifth brother, I'm brewing wine tomorrow, remember to bring me a pound of pig intestines."
"I won't sell pork tomorrow." Fifth Grandfather took out a cup, took out a wine bottle from the cupboard, poured himself a glass, and as for Feng Dahai, he had no intention of pouring him a drink.
I served Feng Dahai a bowl of rice and awkwardly placed it in front of him.
"Hmph, I guess I'll never have the chance to drink your wine in my lifetime." Feng Dahai pulled a bottle out of his pocket and said smugly, "Luckily, I was prepared."
After saying that, Feng Dahai picked up a cup and poured himself a full cup.
Fifth Grandfather glanced at Feng Dahai's wine bottle, moved his lips slightly, but said nothing, silently picked up the wine in front of him and drank it.
"Changming, would you like some?" Feng Dahai picked up a glass and placed it in front of me, saying with a smile, "This is good wine, a gift from the son of an old colleague of mine."
I glanced at the bottle, shook my head, and said, "Village chief, you drink it. I can't handle alcohol with such a high alcohol content."
"Hehe, that's a pity." Feng Dahai picked up his glass, took a small sip, and looked quite pleased. "As expected of Moutai, the aftertaste is unforgettable."
Fifth Grandfather picked up a piece of pork belly, put it in his mouth, tilted his head back, downed the wine in his glass, and slammed the glass down on the table.
I suppressed a laugh; these two old guys were at it again.
Feng Dahai took another sip, glanced at Fifth Grandfather, and said, "Fifth Grandfather, we've known each other for over ten years, and you're still the same old jerk. Want to have a drink?"
"Hmph." Fifth Grandfather snorted coldly, picked up his wine bottle, and was about to pour himself some wine.
"Fine, fine, I give up." After saying that, Feng Dahai hurriedly pushed away the bottle of liquor from his fifth grandfather, picked up the bottle of Moutai, and was about to pour some liquor for his fifth grandfather.
Fifth Grandfather didn't stop him, giving him an expression that said, "If you insist on giving me some, then I'll reluctantly drink a little."
I ate quietly to the side, keeping my eyes down and my mind at ease.
Half an hour later.
After I finished eating and returned to my room, I was about to grab my clothes and take a shower when Feng Dahai staggered in.
"Village chief, are you drunk?" I hurriedly stepped forward to support Feng Dahai and asked.
“Drunk my ass! You know how much your fifth grandfather drinks. If I don’t drink faster, he’ll finish my whole bottle of good wine.” Feng Dahai sat down at my desk and said irritably, “He’s like a brick in a latrine, smelly and hard.”
"..." I touched my nose speechlessly, not knowing how to respond for a moment.
"Changming, tomorrow is your birthday, right?" Feng Dahai picked up his pipe, rubbed some tobacco from his pouch, lit it, took a few puffs, and asked softly.
"Yes!" I nodded and asked, "By the way, village chief, what brings you here?"
Actually, I really wanted to ask earlier, but the village chief and Fifth Grandfather were drinking, so I couldn't get a word in edgewise. Now that the village chief has come to find me, I can't wait to speak up.
"Changming, what are your plans for your birthday tomorrow?" the village chief suddenly asked.
"I don't have any plans. I'll just live like this, village chief. Why do you ask me that?" I looked at Feng Dahai with a puzzled expression. I was very confused. What did the village chief want to talk to me about?
"Alright, I won't beat around the bush. Since you've already followed your grandfather's path, he must have already told you about the calamity. The reason I'm here tonight is because your grandfather asked me to give you this letter." After saying that, Feng Dahai took out a letter from his pocket and placed it on my desk.
I jumped to my feet, utterly shocked. I glanced at the worn-out envelope on the desk and asked uncertainly, "Village Chief, is this really a letter from my grandfather?"
“Yes, this is what your grandfather asked me to give you the night before your 24th birthday.” Feng Dahai stood up, patted my shoulder, and said quietly, “Changming, I don’t know what you will face, and I’m an old man who can’t help you. But your grandfather is a master, and I believe you will be fine. It’s getting late. Now that things are done, I can finally put my mind at ease and go back to rest.”
"Village chief, let me see you off."
"No need, I'm just old, this little bit of wine won't get me drunk." Feng Dahai waved his hand and slowly walked towards the door.
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